Ghana is making a 5th appearance on the big stage since its debut in 2006, while Panama returns to the Mundial for the second time following their maiden adventure in Russia 2018 after topping the third round of 2026 CONCACAF qualifying Group A ahead of Suriname, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Pooled against one of the favourites for the trophy, 1966 winners England, as well as perennial achievers, Croatia, the 2018 runners-up, the Black Stars have their job cut out to take all three points when Ghana gets its 2026 campaign underway in Canada on June 17. 

Experts envisage it as a must-win tie crucial to setting Ghana up to grab a ticket into the next round in pursuit of greater success in football's biggest competition, in effect, the easiest job on the itinerary.

But the NSA boss, a seasoned sports journalist, who covered all of the Black Stars' four previous World Cup campaigns spanning Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022, admits that it's a tough group alright, but believes history is repeating itself.

Croatia and England, he envisaged, may eventually not even be Ghana's biggest problem if the Black Stars fail to concentrate on the opening game at the BMO Field in Toronto.

The Black Stars' final two games against the European powerhouses will both take place in the US, England at the Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Boston, Massachusetts, on June 24 and Croatia four days later at the Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia.

"It's a great group, full of possibilities. If you look at 2006, our first World Cup in Germany, some very tough teams in there, but the Black Stars sailed through.

2010 South Africa, similarly very tough, but we beat Serbia and lost to Germany, whom we again met in Brazil (2014) with Portugal and the USA. It has always been tough, but we always find a way," Mr Ankrah alluded.

"This is a good group, England we know about them, Croatia have pedigree but I'm more concerned with Panama, they have a lot of energy. People are saying Panama is 3 points, but teams like that will also like to go out and make a statement, and it's the first game," he said.

"If you watch their qualifying matches, they have a lot of energy, adventurous players who play with a lot of passion and expression; they are like the South Americans. So let's not be complacent or 'disrespect' Panama.

"Obviously, we respect England, we respect Croatia, but it might surprise you that Ghana might get better results against England and Croatia, but overall, I'm happy about the group.